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Thursday, November 1, 2012

Ghouls Come Out To Play (Baseball)

R.I.P. DETROIT TIGERS

It's not every weekend that one of your best friends comes to visit, you get to dress up and go to a Halloween party in an old Victorian, and your favorite baseball team wins the World Series, but this was one of those weekends.

Shawn flew up to visit for four days, and he and I spent our first afternoon together having a picnic at Golden Gate Park and walking around North Beach.

That evening we picked up Gio and went to The Lookout for happy hour, where we were able to see people strutting around the Castro in the first round of Halloween Costumes (later that weekend we saw someone there with a cake hat walking around in his birthday suit-literally). Later that night, Brittany and Jodi joined us for pizza and arancini at Delfina in the Mission.

On our way to brunch the next morning, this was the commotion that welcomed us on the street. The firemen jumped out and pointed to us on the corner: "Did you call fire?!" We hadn't, and they couldn't find who had. At least four big trucks and many smaller ones reported for duty, but there was no smoke in sight. The rest of the day was spent thrifting for last-minute costumes, watching Game Three, and getting ready for the Halloween party at Jessie's in Oakland.

Here's our crew ready for the party. I was a Senior Portrait from 1982, and among the others you'll find Daphne from Scooby Doo, a Murderous Mechanic, a Scarecrow, and Rosie the Riveter.

Jessie and her roommates really went all out with the decor. Several of them are teachers and had access to great resources, like butcher paper and holiday creativity. Oh, and I must mention that they had a Super-hero themed bounce house. Awesome, right?

There were some fantastic costumes out and about. A few of my favorites were a saucy male French Maid, the Tootsie-Pop Owl, and a chic, mysterious Raven. Mary's Matador costume (down below) was a great one, too.

Our group spent the night dancing, munching on cupcakes, and bouncing (which leaves you feeling quite googly afterwards). Highlights include Brittany getting her heel stuck in a floor vent, Mary breaking it down to Robyn on the dance floor and singing the Star Spangled Banner in opera from the porch, running from a band of racoons on the sidewalk and basically all the bounce house moments. At one point, while dancing with the French Maid and a Tigress, Brittany exclaimed, "This is the best night ever!" The following group shot is compliments of her.

Driving back home over the bridge from Oakland, one could see all the buildings of the city lit up in Giants orange!

Sunday was basically dedicated to the Giants. We slowly made our way down to Divasadero, climbing around Cole Valley, through secret stairways and up panoramic hills. Taking in all the lovely houses in the area, Britt proclaimed, "I'd happily set up house and home in one of these!" The first photo above, of the Detroit Tiger's tombstone, was from one of the elaborately decorated houses in the neighborhood.

We made our way to Corona Heights Park, where we had sweeping views of the city, from Candlestick Park to the Bay Bridge and downtown.

Next, we grabbed burritos and headed to The Independent, a venue that was hosting a special showing of Game Four. It was perfect because we got there early and had our own VIP section, there was a bar, we could bring in our own food, and they had set up a gigantic screen so that we could actually watch the game. I was praying they would win not just because I love the Giants and a sweep would've been awesome, but for Shawn's sake. He didn't quite expect a weekend of sports when he came up to a visit a bunch of girls, and I didn't want to make him sit through yet another game!

I was glad Game Four wasn't easy. We had to fight for it, and it felt better (and more normal) to suffer a bit of Giants torture. By the Win, it really felt like we deserved it! The lights were flashing, people were jumping up and screaming and hugging. It was completely unreal. After missing the 2010 series while I was abroad, I was thankful to the guys for doing it again so I could participate this time! What an amazing team they are, playing for the name on the front, not the one on the back. Plus, they make it fun and they look damn good doing it.

GIANTS SWEEP THE WORLD SERIES!

We had to walk home because public transportation was so backed up due to the street celebrations, so we grabbed a bunch of orange foods (think Goldfish, carrots, etc.) and hiked back up the hill, wooing and high-fiving our way past crazy-exited fans, with honking and hollering coming from every direction. Brittany snapped this great one of Gio as we were walking down the cordoned off Haight Street. We made it home to eat our orange dinner and watch the celebratory madness on the news, and we even got to see my dad, discussing the impact of Sandy on airport delays. I was in the other room when he came on and everyone yelled incoherently for me to come see, I dare say louder than they yelled for the Giants.

When the Giants flew home into SFO the next day, my dad snapped this photo of Larry Baer with the trophy. He got to see all the players up close and personal, too!

On Monday, we went for a day-long walk through the Presidio, where Gio lives, and down to Fort Point, across Crissy Field, through the Marina District, and all the way to Ghiradelli Square and Fisherman's Wharf. Gio lives amongst the most beautiful old brick houses, which were part of the base before it was demilitarized. Apparently I have to meet someone with a connection to be able to move into one, so it's time to start going to Presidio block parties.

It was a lovely, albeit chilly day, and we just enjoyed the scenery and the last few hours of being together. I think Shawn really fell for the city, and I fell in love with it all over again. There's just no place quite like San Francisco.

"The glory that was Rome is of another day...

I'm going home to my city by the bay

When I come home to you, San Francisco

Your golden sun will shine for me"

-Tony Bennett

And before I go, just one shot of the family (minus Daniel!) on Halloween night, after the parade coverage and between Hocus Pocus and trick-or-treaters.Hope everyone had a safe and spooky holiday. Trick or sweep!

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Travel Size Me

Back in the Bay after one year at l'Università di Bologna and two working for Georgetown at Villa Le Balze in Florence, I'm delighted and determined to make this American chapter in my life as blog-worthy as the last. And if some gelato sneaks its way in, well really I just can't help that.